by Areeba Suleman (YES 2024-25, Pakistan, placed by AFS-USA in Saratoga Springs, NY)

"We’re going to New York City!" my host mother exclaimed with joy. The news struck me deeply. "New York City," I said to myself as I started packing. New York City had always been my mountain. From watching videos of the glamorous skyline to being fascinated by the city’s fast-paced lifestyle — NYC had never fallen short of a dream to me. I guess when you come from a city like mine in Pakistan, with nothing close to a skyscraper, you naturally become fascinated by what humans are capable of when it comes to architecture. Nonetheless, I felt a surge of emotions gushing through me. Was I in a movie?

Stepping into NYC, I couldn’t help but recall the different things from the many movies I’d watched as a little girl, like the iconic orange ferry featured in my favorite Spider-Man movie. I remembered rewatching that exact movie on my flight to the USA. What a coincidence! For a moment, I felt like I was in an alternate reality, like I was the main character. Feeling like the main character is something every YES student in the USA experiences. This feeling of being in charge of your life gives you a sense of independence that, for me, was life-changing.

The subway, with its fast-paced nature, helped me understand how busy life in the city can be. All the different people I saw made me understand the multicultural nature of America. Central Park, alongside the fascinating skyline, took me by surprise. People with their dogs in strollers made me smile at their cuteness.

It’s hard to explain the different emotions I had when I realized that I was getting to live what my younger self once dreamed of. As we made our way back home, I couldn’t help feeling grateful. "Thank you, YES," I said to myself as I took one last glance at the beautiful skyline.